Swannery Birding Highlights Of The Week - Monday 20th to Sunday 26th October 2014...

It was a pretty good week this week with two 'official' scarce migrants (even though I only connected with one) and a number of other noteworthy sightings too...

Scarce Migrants... 

Tim Farr had a Richard's Pipit fly over him as he scanned The Swannery embayment from New Barn Road, above the water meadow, at around 2pm on Saturday (just around the time I was returning from the water meadow hide!). It flew west but I subsequently learned that it appeared to drop down in a field between The Chapel and The Swannery. Needless to say I checked, as thoroughly as I could, all the fields in that area first thing this morning but to no avail. I almost certainly missed another last autumn too as one flew north-west along The Fleet at nearby Clouds Hill. Thankfully I found a settled bird back in November 1994 that lingered for five days in the water meadow, so at least I have one on my Swannery list!

I was just beginning to think I might miss out on Yellow-browed Warbler on the patch this year too with so many turning  up seemingly everywhere else! A quick stroll up the garden on Saturday morning though, before I left for work, paid dividends when I heard the distinctive call of this delightful little Leaf Warbler emanating from the adjacent Chapel Coppice. It was heard again later in the morning but I didn't get a chance to look for it again until my lunch hour, when I failed to even hear it. It wasn't until I got home from work in the evening that I eventually saw the little gem in the failing light. I saw it again this morning in the same small Sycamore on the boundary of my garden and Chapel Coppice but I didn't get the chance to look again today and it was dark before I got home. 

Wildfowl... 

New in today were two (juv/1st winter) Long-tailed Ducks, the first since a one day bird in December last year; whilst new in yesterday were three (1st winter) Scaup, joining the long-staying (adult) female. Nine Shelducks that arrived on Wednesday were the first for a couple of months but otherwise numbers and variety were again similar to the previous weeks, though several Dark-bellied Brent Geese flew over including a group of twenty-two on Thursday. There were however no Gadwall, Goldeneye or Red-breasted Merganser.

The newly arrived 1st winter Scaup. The two on the left are clearly males but the bird on the right does look much more female-like. However juvenile males can still look like this so time will tell (if it sticks around). For a moment today I thought there were 5 Scaup until I realised that the regular hybrid had returned too!

Waders... 

There was a slightly  better variety this week but all but the twenty odd Lapwing were fleeting and in single figures, with just a couple each of Snipe, Redshank, Common Sandpier and Dunlin and singles of Golden Plover, Ringed Plover, Greenshank and Turnstone. 

A rather dishevelled Common Sandpiper.

Gulls etc... 

There were far fewer Mediterranean Gulls this week and still only the occasional Common Gulls among the numerous Black-headed Gulls and no surprises among the usual three 'big' gulls either.

Raptors...

Last week's Osprey lingered until Monday but was not seen subsequently; a Merlin flew through on Saturday and the regular male Marsh Harrier reappeared.

Near Passerines...

The first real Woodpigeon passage was noted on Wednesday with a rather conservative five-hundred flying west.

Passerines...

Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps are now becoming hard to find and together with the aforementioned Yellow-browed and ever present Cetti's, were the only warblers seen or heard. The roaming tit-flocks still held plenty of Goldcrests though (but still no Firecrests). A single Swallow on Monday and Tuesday was the only one of the week. Skylarks, Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails were still moving over most days with the former two peaking at around five-hundred each on Wednesday, along with around one hundred Jackdaws. A Bullfinch was the first for awhile (but there were no Siskins this week and still no Redpolls or Brambling) but after a week's absence a few Bearded Reedlings reappeared including a rather fine and confiding male...

The male Bearded Reedling or Bearded Tit if you'd rather. I think I personally prefer just 'Reedling' as it's not a 'tit' and technically not bearded but moustached!

Swannery Birding Highlights Of The Week - Monday 13th to Sunday 19th October 2014...

It seemed rather quiet this week but three species making the bird news services can't be too bad I guess...

Wildfowl... 

Numbers and variety were similar to last week, including the regular female Scaup but there was only a single Dark-bellied Brent Goose (and no Gadwall or Goldeneye). New in though and first of the autumn, was a 'redhead' Red-breasted Merganser.

The female Scaup (with Pochards). 
It shouldn't be too long now until she is joined by more of her ilk! 

Waders... 

A rather poor week with just singles of Black-tailed Godwit, Common Sandpiper, Redshank and Dunlin (and no Snipe!)

Gulls etc... 

Again pretty much as last week except that Mediterranean Gulls reached around fifty on several days and Common Gulls peaked at three (but there were no Yellow-legged Gulls). Bird of the week though was a Great Skua on Friday...

The Great Skua (or Bonxie) that spent several hours settled on The Fleet.
This piratical sea-bird is a less than annual, usually storm-blown, visitor to The Swannery Embayment (although more regular off the seaward side of Chesil bank of course). 

One of this week's Mediterranean Gulls (a 1st winter)

Raptors...

What was presumably last week's Osprey reappeared on Wednesday and was still present to at least Saturday (but there were no Marsh Harriers).

Migrant Passerines...

Once again Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Cetti's Warblers were the only warblers seen or heard but the roaming tit-flocks still held plenty of Goldcrests (but as yet no Coal Tits!). Swallows and House Martins peaked at around thirty each on several days early in the week but there were none at all in the last few days. Linnets, Skylarks, Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails were still moving over most days but not in any significant number. A few Siskins were heard as were several Jays but the largest flock of the latter this week was of just three. There were a few more Blackbirds and Song Thrushes around this week along with the first Mistle Thrush for a couple of months (but no 'winter thrushes' as yet). There were however, plenty of Robins around along with several Stonechats and a single Wheatear. 

So we're pretty much into late October now and there still hasn't been any scarce migrants this month, let alone any rarities or patch ticks. Oh well still the best part of a two weeks to go!

One of this year's Mute Swan cygnets that are now taking to the air.
© Charlie Wheeler wheeler-photography 

Swannery Birding Highlights Of The Week - Monday 6th to Sunday 12th October 2014...

It was definitely a more productive week this week albeit with no scarce migrants or rares...

Wildfowl... 

Sunday's October WeBS totals give a good idea of the numbers and variety present this week: 
Mute Swan - 585; 
Black Swan - 2; 
Canada Goose - 27; 
Wigeon - 56; 
Teal - 1,000; 
Mallard - 567; 
Pintail - 44; 
Shoveler - 30; 
Pochard - 115; 
Tufted Duck - 190; 
Scaup - 1. 
In addition, in the week there were 30 Dark-bellied Brent Geese; 2 Gadwall and the regular male Goldeneye.

Other Water-birds... 

The highlight was a Shag on Wednesday which is a rare sight in The Swannery embayment and indeed The West Fleet in general... 

Above two images the juvenile Shag

Sunday's October WeBS totals give a good idea of the numbers and variety of other water-birds present this week: 
Little Grebe - 23; 
Great Crested Grebe - 68; 
Cormorant - 19; 
Little Egret - 11; 
Grey Heron - 2; 
Moorhen - 8; 
Coot - 820; 
Kingfisher - 2. 
In addition in the week there were a several Water Rails in evidence.

Above two images one of the Little Grebes

Waders... 

Only three species were seen during Sunday's October WeBS count:
Golden Plover - 2 (the first of the autumn);
Lapwing - 19;
Common Sandpiper - 1.
In addition in the week there were singles of Redshank and Snipe and two each of Dunlin and Ringed Plover. 

One of this week's Lapwing

Gulls... 

A (second winter) Yellow-legged Gull was the only sighting of any note and only three species were seen during Sunday's October WeBS count: 
Black-headed Gull - 70; 
Herring Gull - 30; 
Great Black-backed Gull - 2. 
In addition in the week there were a few 'Meds' and 'Lesser Black-backs'.

Raptors...

An Osprey was present on Saturday and Sunday and it was joined on the latter day by two juvenile Marsh Harriers, whilst the regular male Marsh Harrier was seen on Thursday. Ones and twos of Buzzard, Sparrowhawk and Kestrel all featured on Sunday's Webs and through the week of course, whilst at least one Peregrine was also around.

Migrant Passerines...

New in species for this autumn were Bearded Tit (with at least two present) and Siskin (a single). Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Cetti's Warblers were the only warblers seen or heard in the withy and reed-beds again, along with still plenty of Goldcrests. Unlike last week there were numerous Swallows and a few House Martins, whilst Linnets, Skylarks, Meadow Pipits and Pied Wagtails were moving over in good numbers too. Some of the latter four species were also pausing briefly in the surrounding meadows where they were joined by several Stonechats and a single Wheatear. 

One of the Stonechats (a male)

There were also several Jays around including a group of fifteen moving west on Saturday...

One of this week's Jays caching acorns

And that's it for this week. Thanks to Alan Barrett, Ian McLean and Dave Foot for helping with The Webs.

Swannery Birding Highlights Of The Week - Monday 29th September to Sunday 5th October 2014...

I was only working and birding at The Swannery for the first three days of the week and only birded briefly there on Thursday before heading off to Cornwall for the rest of the week. Therefore, as it was rather quiet at the Swannery while I was around (and hopefully so when I wasn't), I really don't have much to report this week...

Wildfowl... 

All the usual ducks were still present in similiar numbers including the regular female Scaup and the male Goldeneye. 

A moulting drake Wigeon. A typical early October sight (and sound)!

Waders... 

Only three species were seen - singles of  Common Sandpiper and Black-tailed Godwit and a peak of twelve Lapwing. 

Gulls... 

A few Mediterranean Gulls and a single (first winter) Yellow-legged Gull were the only sightings of any note.

Raptors...

The regular male Marsh Harrier was the only noteworthy sighting. 

Migrant Passerines...

Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps were the only warblers seen in the withy-beds and copses, along with plenty of Goldcrests, whilst Cetti's Warblers seemingly had the reed-bed's insects to themselves. I can't recall seeing any Swallows or House Martins but there were still a few Linnets, Skylarks, Meadow Pipits and the first Rock Pipit of the autumn moving through overhead or lingering briefly.

So that's it for this week. Hopefully normal services (better coverage and better birds) will resume next week!